Sophie Kinsella has passed away

[KenAdams]

Update on her Facebook page by her family.

It's so upsetting. She made me fall in love with reading again as an adult.

Same @user86397409754 2025 has been a sad year - I loved shopaholic in my 20s and 30s her books always made me laugh. What a terrible loss for her family.

My husband has the same form of brain cancer as she had. Unfortunately it is not curable and the median survival is only 12-18 months even if you have all the usual treatment. Not sure that it's ok to post petitions here but in the hope it is ok, do consider sgning this petition https://petition.parliament.uk/petitions/738881

@GBM25 I have signed, it is a scandal that more isnt being done to find a cure for this terrible disease. I wish you and your husband a lovely Christmas and a peaceful New Year.

I know I've lost 2 friends in their 40s to brain tumours.

Signed. I'm so sorry you're going through this.

Diagnosed with GBM4 in 2022. She did ‘well’ given the absolutely awful diagnosis. My best friend has a brain tumour. It’s horrific. I’ve known people with various types of cancer. A fair few and there is no worse cancer in my opinion. Brain tumours are absolutely horrendous

Gutted. I loved all her books and still read the Shopaholics as part of my comfort reads when I'm feeling a bit low, even though I know the plot inside out.

I'm so sorry for her family and especially her children. It's always unspeakably sad when a loved one dies, but so close to Christmas does add an extra tinge to it.

Thank you for this.

I lost a family member to glioblastoma last year, 20 months from diagnosis until the end so we got an “extra” two months. It’s the most horrific disease.

I wasn’t aware of this petition before now.

Whatever the Grinch can steal isn't Christmas. I re-read it every year.

And yes, her novels are much more comforting to return to than the more literary ones I've enjoyed.

It's two days before Sophie's birthday as well. Her family will go through several sad "firsts" in such a short space of time - her birthday, Christmas and New Year at least.

I had no idea she'd been unwell, so has come as a shock as she was so young. Went to a talk she did a few years ago (though in retrospect likely more than 'a few') and thought she was brilliant.

Very sad for her family, esp. her children.

It’s so very sad. I’m another who loves her books. 55 is far too young to die.

Which is most comforting for a new reader?

Looked at some of her interviews today. She sounds so lovely. Her husband seemed wonderful too, married since she was about 21 too!

Personal opinion but I would start at the first Shopaholic book and then devour the next six or seven. Otherwise my personal favourites are Can You Keep a Secret? My Not So Perfect Life, I've Got Your Number or The Party Crasher.

Same here.
My mum was 75 not 55 though, and I thought that was too soon.

Oh that’s so sad, she had had a brain tumour hadn’t she? I used to absolutely love her books, especially the shopoholic series

So sad to hear this, I didn’t realise she’d been unwell.

Her Shopaholic series got me back into reading after an English degree. I was done with books, but hers were so light and funny that it made reading a joy again. She had a wonderful knack for hilariously awkward comedy moments.

Oh that’s sad. I read a lot of her books years ago. Particularly like The UnDomestic Goddess.

I read What Does It Feel Like this morning after I read the news. It's very short but a really interesting and inspiring read, filled with her humour even though it's such a sad and personal subject. I really like her books, just the perfect side of flakey.

Incredibly sad. I really enjoyed her Shopaholic series.

Cancer is so bloody awful. My son has been in remission for a year now and it has completely changed our lives, I'm just so grateful that he's still with us.

Agree with starting with the first Shopaholic. I'm off to restart them myself!

Thank you for posting this. I lost my darling mum to a gliosarcoma, just 8 weeks after diagnosis (and for those 8 weeks she was paralysed from the neck down). It's a horrendous illness... thinking of you and your DH.

I am very upset. She was also very active in literacy campaigns. I adored her books and loved re-reading her older books and whenever she had a new book I would read it. I used to laugh loudly at the shopaholic books. Thinking of her family indeed.

Honestly, any of them. They're so easy to read and doesn't feel like a chore. I've been reading some "must read" popular books recently and they've all felt like a lot of effort. Her books aren't like that.

I loved all her books especially the ones written after the shopaholic series.
Shes the only author I'd buy a hardback from as I couldn't wait for the paperback to come out. I loved how clever they all were too in that there was always a plot /mystery going on and her heroine would somehow 'save the day' at the end. All of them made me laugh so much and I'd binge read them as soon as I bought them.
I don't know about anyone else but I was so disappointed in the shopaholic film as it just wasn't faithful to the book and Becky just wasn't portrayed as I imagined her to be plus the storyline was a bit odd.
So sad and too young.
I've just ordered her last one (as I was unaware of it)